BYU football enemy camp: 5 questions with a Texas insider

Comments

My bet is that this will be a close game until early in the 4th quarter. This is
such a high stakes game for both sides. One team will crack under the pressure.
It may come down to a few plays that will swing the momentum. Texas needs
this game. They will come out fast and angry, but their emotions might get the
best of them.

poymanLincoln City, OR

Sept. 4, 2014 1:40 a.m.

Whichever team wins, it will be by about 17 points... Whichever team develops
the momentum first will carry the day... If BYU gets an early 2 TD lead, I
certainly hope that we don't shutdown our passing offense like Anae so
often likes to do...

let's rollLEHI, UT

Sept. 3, 2014 7:47 p.m.

Texas shook things up after the game last year because the realized it
wasn't a fluke...the better team won and Texas can't stand the thought
that BYU was the better team, they needed to change to try to get better (even
in a year when they beat Oklahoma).

Stanford made no changes after
losing to Utah because they understood they gave the game away, it was a fluke,
and the better team didn't win...ergo, no need to make any changes.

BleedCougarBlueEnid, OK

Sept. 3, 2014 3:55 p.m.

This is going to be one heck of a tough, tough game. Texas is literally playing
for pride (and in Texas that pride is indeed as big as the media makes it out to
be) after getting crushed last year.

BYU will have to play very well
against Texas to beat them.

Period.

However, I think BYU
will take it. I say that in part because I think Texas's pride is (even 1
yr later) causing them to think that BYU (primarily) got lucky last year instead
of beating them with skill and talent. I think BYU is going to play very well
and surprise Texas again and that Texas's shock will be slow to recover
from and BYU will be able to take advantage of their surprise and be able to put
some points on the board before Texas knows fully what's going on.

BYU - 27Texas - 24

Go Cougars!!

KSUBYULas Vegas, NV

Sept. 3, 2014 2:18 p.m.

The first games of the season for both teams are not a good indicated on how
this game will play out. BYU had too many mistakes and Texas played a far
inferior team. If Texas comes out too hyped up it could cost them, if BYU does
not execute better it could be a long day for them. I see this one being a 3 or
4 point game with a turnover being the winning or losing difference.Win or
lose BYU would make a great representative for the Big 12.

Stringer BellHenderson, NV

Sept. 3, 2014 11:20 a.m.

@ bournesupremecy "you say you just don't see BYu "getting
lucky" again, let me ask you a question - Is that kind of like how utah got
"lucky" last year in beating Stanford?"

Stanford
wasn't in shambles. Stanford didn't fire their Defensive Coordinator
the next day and revamp the entire team, including a new Head Coach, the
following year. I don't think you will surprise them this year.

Y Grad / Y DadRichland, WA

Sept. 3, 2014 8:03 a.m.

Bronco usually prefers disciplined, workman like mentality over raw emotion. On
the whole, that's been successful. Against Utah, not so much. Against
Texas?

I say, absorb the punches and do what we do best. I imagine
they will defend by attacking, 8 men in the box and press coverage. I can see
some big running plays, but by and large, not much success on the ground for
either team. I think it will come down to whose qb can make the quick read and
deliver the ball.

I like BYU by 7 in an upset. There's a
surprise...

IrieUtewest valley, UT

Sept. 3, 2014 12:54 a.m.

Enemy camp? You're not facing the ASU sun devils or anything.

StrikerOmaha, NE

Sept. 2, 2014 8:29 p.m.

"In what way is 40-21 lucky?"

I think he means, "Lucky!
(not fair tone) You beat the ranked Longhorns! You also beat the ranked
Sooners awhile back and have also beaten ranked TCU and ranked KSU in big games
in the last many years. I wish my team had a history of beating all these big
boys from the same big conference like you can. Lucky."

Taysom4HeismanHeber City, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 5:46 p.m.

@respect the Pac 12

In what way is 40-21 lucky? We smacked them last
year. There's nothing else to it. We were flat out better than they were
for 60 minutes straight.

If you want to talk about being lucky, look
at utah's wins over BYU and Stanford last year. Against BYU, a fake holding
call took a touchdown away from Adam Hine, and a muffed punt recovered by BYU
should have put us in field goal range. There's 10 points and a 23-20 BYU
victory. That ref crew was the most corrupt and Pac-12 biased crew I've
ever seen. If you don't believe me, re-watch the BYU vs utah game or watch
the Wisconsin vs ASU game last year. I know the ute fans won't believe it
though since they don't want to.

Against Stanford, the Cardinal
simply had crazy play calling right at the end. They threw it for some dumb
reason and then threw it again on 4th down. Bottom line, if they run, they
probably punch it in for a 28-27 victory.

Going to be a tough game. Anytime emotions are as high as Texas, this could get
real ugly - real fast. Hope the cougs can weather the storm. If we can keep it
close for a couple quarters, they will get anxious and will make mistakes. If
not, it could be a blowout for Texas.

oddman,

Sept. 2, 2014 3:53 p.m.

Texas is proud and doesn't like to be the laughing stock of the league,
ESPN, of antiTexas fans anywhere. I say protect Taysom because by eliminating
him from the picture gives them a shot and begins the full fledged revenge
spoken of in the article. O line, tight ends, blocking backs listen up. If
Hill goes down for the count, game over. Protect your hope for a special season
as if your life depended upon it for I believe Texas will aim for him as though
their lives depended on it, and that isn't far from the truth.

Cougsndawgs West Point , UT

Sept. 2, 2014 3:43 p.m.

As I said in another post...BYU is going to get everything Texas has, QB or not.
Cougs better be ready for a war out there!

kennewickcougAlpine, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 3:20 p.m.

I think BYU is much better than last year with a very experienced offensive
line, very experienced group of running backs and a much improved QB and
receiving core. I think the DB/Safeties are better and probably equal to last
year at linebacker and d-line. So all in all a big upgrade from last year.
Texas however is a bit unknown. New coach, inexperienced QB, etc. The big
advantage is that it is a home game for them and they are tough for anyone to
beat at home. BYU needs to win big games much more often than it does today.
This is the biggest knock on Bronco that he doesn't get his teams up for
big games. We have had the better team 3 of the last 4 games against Utah and
Utah is simply bad! We must win more games against Big 5 schools if we want to
be able to make any case. It is as simple as that. Utes 4-8 this year! One
Pac 12 championship (gymnastics..lol) in four years. If you are going to move
conferences and have billboards up and down I15 touting your good fortune please
at least compete and stop embarrassing the state.

SchneeSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 2:02 p.m.

Texas's defense is not going to be the total sieve it was last year. Their
offense still has a lot to be desired though. It'll probably be a close
low-scoring (by Big12 standards at least) game. I'd give Texas a slight
edge, mostly because they're at home. Neutral site it'd probably be a
tossup.

cougarsrockSpringville, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 1:55 p.m.

cy1951, I am pretty certain that you have absolutely no idea how much
better BYU is as a team this year from last years team.You are correct in 1
comment however, Texas better be ready to play this game or it will get ugly for
them.oh and by the way 200,000 screaming fans will not win the game for texas.
May the best team win Saturday !

DEW CougarsSandy, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 1:42 p.m.

@Kralon

You Said: "That would require the BIG12 to expand to at
least 12 teams and might get BYU an invite." Well, it is up to the board
such as from General Authorities when one person did reject it. Missionary tools
is very important to the church and they don't want tv exposers to go away.
So yeah, they may reject it again. I like the idea to move on to P5 League but
it is not up to fans and medias and nor to Bronco M.

idaho cougar fanTwin Falls, ID

Sept. 2, 2014 1:26 p.m.

This game has that feeling of the TCU game of 200? (7 or 8) after BYU had won
the last 2 MW titles and went undefeated in conference both years. In the off
season, Patterson had BYU helmets and uniforms on all the weight lifting
equipment and all over the football offices reminding his team who they wanted
to beat that year. I hope that BYU comes out to play or it could be a beat down
a la 2007. It will be a tough game, but I think we compete because we want to
show the Big 12 we would be an upgrade.

Johnny TriumphAmerican Fork, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 1:26 p.m.

BYU's got a good shot at it, we still don't really know the new Texas.
And with Ash and the starting Center out it'll be tougher for Texas. Go
Cougars, seize this chance!

ekuteLayton, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 1:20 p.m.

SEC Rules,

byu couldn't beat their old rival... So "Looks
like BYU has a new and (better)rival." lol.

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

Sept. 2, 2014 1:09 p.m.

@Respect the 12(Pac)

I don't think it was luck at all. BYU had
a one dimensional offense yet Texas couldn't stop the running game or
tackle worth diddly, so BYU rolled all over them.

@SEC Rules:
"Looks like BYU has a new and (better)rival."

And someone
that BYU can actually beat.

Texas will want to come out and embarrass
BYU, like we do every year. But I think BYU has a great chance to pulling off
an upset. It comes down to if Texas's defense can contain Hill and take
the quick, short passing game away. If they do they win, if not then I can see
BYU winning a close game.

Mowgli54Santa Rosa, CA

Sept. 2, 2014 1:00 p.m.

I agree with "Respect the 12" about BYU not likely being lucky if BYU
wins on Saturday, but I disagree with his or her implication that luck explains
last year's result. BYU just flat out-played them early, perhaps because
they were not prepared for Hill's rushing abilities, and Texas didn't
adjust.

If the referees behave themselves and call a fair game---I
admit my concern about being home-towned---and the boys play like they can, BYU
may dominate the game. This is particularly true given the unfortunate state of
the Longhorns' qb and center situations. This would then likely be noticed
by ESPN, considering it would be the answer to one of the early season
questions.

1978Salt Lake City, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 12:58 p.m.

"I just don't see byU getting lucky again."

Why not? It
worked for Utah 3 out of the 4 times they played BYU recently.

The
difference is BYU won 40-21. Not by (1) a blocked FG (2) a free touchdown from
our QB to your defensive line and (3) two special teams touchdowns called back.

patriotCedar Hills, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 12:55 p.m.

Texas 24 BYU 17

BlueHuskyMission Viejo, CA

Sept. 2, 2014 12:53 p.m.

Texas is like BYU was in the MWC. The hated team you had to beat to get to the
title.

They'll be up for revenge.

BYU will up for
recognition.

Can Texas with a ball-control offense and a rookie QB
move against BYU defense? Hmmm. Not easy.Can BYU move the ball against a
riled up UT defense. Maybe in spurts and enough big plays to score. If BYU does
move the ball on them, they can probably move the ball on anybody.

Hard to see BYU beating Texas twice at their house. Great win if they can do
it. Top 25 if they can do it.

never break .500 Los Angeles, CA

Sept. 2, 2014 12:42 p.m.

with no U on our schedule, I don't see any sub.500 spoiler teams able to
jump up and upset the mighty Cougs…bring on UT with or without any extra
motivation….we will manage this game.

SEC Rules Seminole, FL

Sept. 2, 2014 12:40 p.m.

Looks like BYU has a new and (better)rival.

Cletus from CoalvilleCoalville, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 12:34 p.m.

We would for sure win Texas by a lot. just look how far we won Idaho.

Go Utes!

bournesupremacyKaysville, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 12:30 p.m.

@respect the 12(pac) - you say you just don't see BYu "getting
lucky" again, let me ask you a question - Is that kind of like how utah got
"lucky" last year in beating Stanford?

cy1951Arlington, VA

Sept. 2, 2014 12:29 p.m.

This is going to be a monumental game for Texas. I don't think BYU has any
idea just how ornery the Texas defense is going to be, or just how hard and well
BYU will have to play to win this game. They better be ready for an emotionally
charged buzz-saw of a team -- this is grudge match to the max. If they are not
emotionally ready, this will get ugly fast -- with 100k angry and loud fans
looking for revenge and a team lit on fire, the Cougs better buckle up their
chin straps and get after it, because this will be no gentlemanly game. Texas
has not been Top 20 of late, but they are a proud and quality program that was
embarrassed in Provo last year. And if they only win one game this year,
despite the history with Oklahoma, it better be this one or there will be hell
to pay. Look out, Cougs. This will be harrowing.

KralonHUNTINGTON BEACH, CA

Sept. 2, 2014 12:03 p.m.

It will help BYU if they win this game as most BIG12 fans cheer any team that
plays Texas because they hate the power Texas has in the BIG12. Beating Texas
will make most other teams in the BIG12 look favorably on you (as it did last
year for BYU).

While it will help, it won't get BYU an invite to
the BIG12 because the money is still more important. The only way BYU will
possibly get an invite is if the NCAA declines the BIG12's request to have
a championship game with only 10 teams. That would require the BIG12 to expand
to at least 12 teams and might get BYU an invite.

Respect the 12(Pac) Salt Lake, UT

Sept. 2, 2014 12:03 p.m.

With a half competent defensive coordinator, which Texas didn't have last
year, I just don't see byU getting lucky again.

idaho cougar fanTwin Falls, ID

Sept. 2, 2014 12:01 p.m.

His last paragraph sums up this game in a heartbeat. Texas's embarrassment
vs. BYU wanting to show they belong. Should be a good game.